When stereotyping America, Texas is usually one of the first things to come to mind. The adage, “Everything is bigger in Texas,” definitely holds true with its role in pop culture, history, and folk lore in our country. Legendary men like David Crockett, Jim Bowie, and Sam Houston all played a big role in Texas history. Let’s take a tour of the real culture, sights, and legends of Texas.
Naturally, the Alamo is the first thing that comes to mind when picturing Texas. The site can still be toured without a reservation, and seems to be randomly thrown into the middle of downtown San Antonio amid bustling city streets and high rise buildings. This is a result of the city growing around the Alamo, which was built as a church for a Spanish mission in the early 1700’s. Most people have only seen pictures of the church, like the one above, but the original Alamo consisted of an entire fort with walls, buildings and courtyards. Only parts of the fort are still standing, but tour guides provide insight as to where original buildings and events took place.
The famed Battle of the Alamo took place in 1836 during the Texas Revolution. The artifacts and sights found here are a history junkie’s dream. There is even a place in the stone next to the main doors of the church where marks can still be seen from buckshot fired during the battle.
San Antonio is a beautiful city with many great sites to see, but another one of the most famous is the River Walk, which is relatively close to the Alamo. The River Walk is a strip of beautiful walkways and overhanging trees along the San Antonio River, which is also lined with quaint little shops and restaurants. Tourists can also enjoy a boat ride on this little Venice-like area of downtown.
The charming roots of Texas culture can be found everywhere, from the fields packed with bluebonnets, to the little honkeytonks and dance halls to the crowded and sometimes rowdy streets of Austin and the Fort Worth Stockyards. The city of Austin is a well-known cultural hub of Texas and also the capitol. Thousands of people come for the sites, events and festivals like South by Southwest, the Austin City Limits Music Festival and even to see the million+ bats that emerge from under the Congress bridge every night.
The heart of Fort Worth contains another wonderful historical district that is not as well known among non-Texan folk. The Fort Worth Stockyards began as a rough and tumble area around the railroad depot, which was used as a drop off point for herds of cattle being loaded onto rail cars during the 1800’s. Cowboys looking to blow off a little steam flocked to the surrounding saloons and places of ill repute after finishing their roles in the cattle drives, and this area became known as hell’s half acre. The saloons, rail station, and small shops remain to this day, and the Stockyards now have a famous bar called Billy Bob’s, which holds a claim as the world’s largest honkytonk. The bar has held concerts with many famous musicians over the years, including Johnny Cash, Ted Nugent, and Loretta Lynn, and added a unique touch to the place by having the celebrities leave a signature and hand prints in small blocks of concrete displayed on the walls. Here is a link to a video (not mine) if you wish to explore the Stockyards a little before visiting.
Texans all hold a special pride in their hearts because of the world-famous culture and history of the state, and rightfully so. I have only scratched the surface of this place, which was once its own independent nation. The experiences found here are a must-have on the list of anyone who enjoys getting out and seeing first-hand the wonderful things our country has to offer, just don’t forget to bring your sunscreen and cowboy hat. Below are a few extra pictures I have collected from around the state.
Gypsy with a Camera 